Tablet dispenser



A118- 25, 1953 H. B. LEwls ETAL '2,649,994

TABLET DISPENSER Filed April 25, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 25, 1953 Filed April 25, 1949 H. B. LEWIS ETAL TABLET DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 25, 1953 TABLET DISPENSER Howard B. Lewis, Glen M. Larson, and Howard Field, Jr., Los Angeles, Calif.

Application April 25, 1949, Serial N o. 89,434

6 Claims.

Our invention relates in general to dispensers for tablets, or other objects of a similar nature, and, more particularly, to a device which serves both as a dispenser for the tablets and as a carton or package for the tablets during distribution and which is inexpensive so that it may be discarded after use.

In general, We contemplate a dispenser comprising a carton-like magazine of cardboard, or other suitable material, having a discharge opening therein, and comprising dispensing means for ejecting the tablets through the discharge opening one by one. The dispensing means includes a movable dispensing element, preferably a rotor, having one or more openings or stalls therein each of which is adapted to receive one tablet and is movable into registery with the discharge opening in the magazine to eject such tablet therethrough. In order to prevent the discharge of more than one tablet at a time, the dispenser is provided with a guard which overlies a portion of the rotor opposite the discharge opening in the magazine to prevent the presence of more than one tablet in each stall in the rotor as it moves into registry With the discharge opening in the magazine.

An important object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of the foregoing general character having a guard which is flexible and resilient and which is capable of yielding if a tablet is l misaligned in one of the stalls during movement of such stall into registry with the discharge opening so as to prevent damage to such a misaligned tablet. With this construction, the crushing or shearing oir of portions of misaligned tablets, frequently encountered With prior vdevices of this character, is eliminated, which is an important feature.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser having a generally dish-like guide disposed in the magazine and sloping downwardly from the side Walls of the magazine toward the rotor, the guide having a discharge opening therein through Which the tablets may pass into the stalls in the rotor. The employment of such a guide in the magazine insures that all of the tablets therein will be dispensed and that none of them will become lodged in the corners of the magazine, or between the side Walls of the magazine and the rotor.

Another object is to provide a dispenser Wherein the guide is formed of sheet material and is so shaped as to resist removal from the magaz-ine `so that it cannot become dislodged readily from its proper position. A related object is to provide a guide of this nature which may be inserted into the magazine readily during assembly of the dispenser.

An important object of the invention is to provide a dispenser wherein the guard and the guide are formed from the same sheet of material and are integrally connected, the guard preferably having the form of a tab which eX- tends into the discharge opening in the guide. With this construction, the guard and the guide may be inserted into the magazine simultaneously to facilitate assembly of the dispenser which is an important feature.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a one-piece magazine formed from cardboard or other suitable sheet material and comprising a plurality of integrally connected panels which are folded relative to each other to provide the desired configuration. In this connection, it is an object of the invention to employ a novel magazine or box of the folding type, as distinct from the so-called set up type.

Another object is to provide a magazine of this nature having a lower, end Wall which comprises a plurality of superimposed end Wall panels having opening therethrough which register with each other to provide the discharge opening for the tablets and having additional openings therethrough which register with each other to provide an opening in which a spindle connected to the rotor is journaled, the end Wall panels'being integrally and foldably connected to side wall panels of the magazine.

Another object is to provide such a magazine having a pocket or space for receiving a bracket by means of which the dispenser may be mounted on a Wall, or the like.

Another object is to provide a magazine having foldably and integrally connected outer side wall panels and having an inner side wall panel which is foldably and integrally connected relative to the outer side Wall panels and which lies adjacent and parallel to one of the outer side Wall panelsA to form the aforementioned bracket-receiving space. A related object is to provide a magazine wherein the inner side wall panel is integrally and foldably connected to the outer side Wall panels through one of the end Wall panels forming the lower end wall of the magazine, such end Wall panel integrally and foldably connected to one of the outer side Wall panels, and the inner side wall panel being similarly connected to such end wall panel.

Another object is to provide a magazine wherein the inner side wall panel is provided with a tab which it cut from the lower end of the outer side wall panel adjacent which the inner side wall panel is disposed to provide a notch communicating with the bracket-receiving space.

Another object is to provide a dispenser having a magazine of the foregoing construction which is sturdy and substantial to resist damage during use of the dispenser as a shipping carton and during its use as a dispensing device for the tablets contained therein.

The foregoing objects and advantages of the present invention, together with various other objects and advantages will become apparent in the light of the detailed disclosure which follows, may be attained through the employment of the exemplary embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and which is described in detail hereinafter. Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is an isometric view of a dispenser which embodies the invention, the dispenser being viewed from below;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the dispenser taken along the broken line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the dispenser taken along the broken line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an isometric view of an element which serves as the aforementioned integral guard and guide of the dispenser;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the guard-guide element illustrating its method of construction; and

Fig. 6 is a developed view of the magazine of the dispenser illustrating its method of construction.

Referring particularly to Figs. l to 3 of the drawings, the dispenser includes a carton-like magazine II) which is substantially square in cross section in the particular construction illustrated, the magazine having side walls, an upper, end wall and a lower, end wall. The side walls of the magazine Ill respectively comprise outer side wall panels Il, I2, I3 and I4 and one of the side walls of the magazine also includes an inner side wall panel I5 which is disposed adjacent and parallel to the outer side wall panel I I to provide therebetween a bracket-receiving pocket or space IB. The outer side wall panel Il is provided at its lower end with a notch I1 which communicates with the lower end of the bracket-receiving space I6 and through which a bracket I8 may be inserted into such space, the bracket I8 being attached to a wall I9, or other suitable supporting structure, by means of a screw or the like. As will be apparent from Fig. 2 of the drawings, the dispenser may be mounted on the bracket I8 by moving it downwardly relative to the bracket with the upper end of the bracket inserted into the lower end of the space I6 through the notch I1.

The upper wall of the magazine IU comprises a plurality of upper, end wall panels 24, 25, 26 and 21, the end wall panel being visible only in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and the lower wall of the magazine comprises a plurality of lower, end wall panels 28, 29 and 30. As will be discussed in more detail hereinafter, the side wall panels II to I5 and the end wall panels 24 to 33, together with three other elements of the magazine I5 which have not yet been identified, are all integrally and foldably interconnected.

The lower wall of the magazine Il) is provided with a discharge opening 35 to which tablets 35 are conveyed one by one by a dispensing element or rotor 31, the tablets being salt or aspirin tablets, for example, although the device may be: employed for dispensing other tablets also. The rotor 31 is mounted to move just above the lower wall of the magazine I0 to sweep across the dis-` charge opening 35 and is provided with a hollow' stem 38 which extends into a sleeve 39 on arr actuating knob 40, the knob and rotor being: preferably formed of molded plastic material and, being joined by a suitable adhesive to move as ay unit. The stem 38 and sleeve 39 form a spindle 42 for the rotor 31, which spindle extends through and is journaled in an opening 43 in the lowery wall of the magazine, the spindle opening 43 being disposed adjacent and spaced from they discharge opening 35. As will be apparent, they rotor 31 may be rotated by rotating the knob 4|), rotation of the knob being communicated to; the rotor by the spindle 42.

The rotor 31 is provided with a plurality of' openings or stalls 41 therethrough each of which is adapted to receive one of the tablets 35, they stalls being successively movable into registry with the discharge opening 35 so that tablets therein may be ejected through the discharge opening by gravity. In the particular construc-l tion illustrated in the drawings, the rotor 31 is shown as having four stalls 41, although thisy number may be varied if desired.

Disposed in the magazine I0 above the rotor 31 is a generally dish-shaped guide 48 which slopes downwardly from the sides of the maga-- zine toward the rotor and which is provided with a central discharge or feed opening 49 only slightly smaller than the rotor and through which the tablets 36 may pass into the stalls 41 in the rotor. As best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the guide 48 is provided with four triangular tabs or corners 50 which slope upwardly from the central feed or discharge opening 49 and which extends into the corners of the magazine IIJ. As best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the edges of the triangular corners 5l] engage the sides of the magazine IU.

The guide 48 is preferably formed of a relatively flexible and resilient sheet material, cellulose acetate being one example of such a material. As best shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the guide 48 is formed flat, the guide originally having the outline indicated by the broken lines 5I. The upward sloping triangular corners 50 are then formed by being bent upwardly from the flat sheet along fold lines 52 until the guide 48, when viewed in plan, has substantially the same conguration as the cross-sectional conguration of the magazine I0.

During assembly oi the dispenser, the guide may be inserted into the magazine Il) from the upper end thereof, this being accomplished readily because of the fact that the triangular corners 50 slope upwardly. However, the guide 48 cannot be dislodged from its proper position readily because of the fact that the edges of the triangular corners tend to dig into the sides of the magazine if an upward force is applied to the guide, thereby wedging the guide in the magazine against upward removal. Thus, the guide 43 tends to remain in its proper position in the magazine I0, which is an important feature.

As will be apparent, the guide 48 conveys the tablets toward the stalls 41 in the rotor 31, thereby insuring that all of the tablets in the magazine IU will ultimately be dispensed and that none of Ypanels 28 to 30 separate same.

them will lodge in the corners of the magazine, yor between the rotor and they side walls of the magazine. As best shown in Fig'. 3 of the drawings, the rotor 31 is provided with a diametral rib 53 which serves to 'agitate the tablets there adjacent so as to displace them toward the stalls 41 in the rotor.

The dispenser includes a guard 55 which, as `here'inb'efore suggested, is 'preferably formed integrally with the guide 4B, the guard 55 having the form of a tab which extends into the central discharge opening 49 of the guide. The guard 55 overlies the portion of the rotor 31 'which is above lthe discharge opening 35 to close each of the stalls 41 as it moves into registry with the discharge opening, thereby preventing the discharge of more than one tablet at 'a time. In the event that a second tablet rests on a tablet in one of the stalls 41, the guard 55 will restrain such second tablet so that only the tablet within the lstall may be discharged as the stall moves into registry with the discharge opening.

As previously mentioned, the guide 48 is formed of a material which is relatively flexible and resilient so that the guard 55 also has these 'characteristics. AThis permits the guard `55 vto yield,

las indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, in the event that a misaligned tablet, i. e., a tablet on edge, is in one of the stalls 41 so as to prevent shearing off a portion Aof such misaligned tablet or crushing the tablet, as has been common in prior devices. Thus, by yielding when a misaligned tablet is encountered, the flexible and resilient guard 55 prevents damage thereto, which is an important feature.

'The yielding restraint imposed on a misaligned tablet by the guard 55 may result in removal of such tablet from the stall 41 in which it is imperfeotly disposed or may hold it against or roll it around the peripheral edge of the stall so that no tablet will be Yejected from that particular stall. If this occurs, it is merely necessary for the operator 'of the device to rotate the rotor 31 until the next stall is in registry with the discharge opening in order to obtain one of the tablets.

The foregoing completes the description of the dispensing mechanism of our dispenser and the manner in which the one-piece magazine I Il is made will now be considered with particular reference to Fig. 6 of the drawings. The magazine is vof the folding type and is formed from sheet material, such as cardboard,ffor example, a sheet of such material being cut to the shape illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings to provide the integrally connected side wall panels II to I5 and end wall panels 24 to 30. The sheet is cut along full lines 56 between the upper end wall panels 24 to 21 to separate such panels from each other, and is cut along full lines 51 between the lower end wall The 4sheet is also cut along an irregular line 58 located adjacent the lower end of the outer side wall panel I I and within the confines thereof to provide the notch I1 in the outer side wall panel II .and to provide a tab 59 on the inner side wall panel I5. Another tab 60 similar to the tab 59 is provided on the inner side wall panel I5 opposite the tab 56, the tabs 59 and 6I) being of generally `trapezoidal configuration. A tab 6I is providing along one edge of the outer side wall panel vI I.

The sheet from which the magazine I6 is formed is also provided with closed-periphery and preferably circular openings 62 in the three lower end wall panels 28 to 30, the openings 62 being in registry with each other when the sheet is folded to bring the lower end wall panels 28 to 30 into superimposed relation, as will be discussed in more detail hereinafter. When brought into registry, the openings 62 in the lower end wall panels form the discharge opening 35. Similarly, the three lower end wall panels 28 to 30 are provided with closed-periphery and preferably circular openings 63 which register with each other to form the spindle opening 43 when the lower end wall panels are brought into superimposed relation.

The outer side wall panels I I to I4 are adapted to be folded substantially at right angles to each other along dotted lines 66 into a substantially square configuration to form the sides of the magazine I0, and the tab 6I on the outer side wall panel II is adapted to be folded relative thereto along dotted line 61 and to be brought into engagement with the inner surface of the outer side wall panels I 4, as best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The tab 6I may then Abe cemented or otherwise secured to the outer side wall panel I4 to hold the outer side wall panels i I to I4 in their desired relation.

Subsequently, the tabs 59 and 65 on the inner side wall panels I5 are folded substantially at right angles thereto along dotted lines 68 and the inner side wall panel I5 is folded substantially at right angles to the lower end wall panel 26 along the dotted line 69. The lower end wall panel 28 is subsequently folded upwardly substantially at right angles to the outer side wall panel I2 along dotted line 10. When this has been accomplished, the inner side wall panel I5 is disposed adjacent and parallel to the outer side wall panels II to provide therebetween the ybracket-receiving space I5, the notch I1 formed by cutting the tab 59 from the outer side wall panel II communicating with the lower end of the space I6 as hereinbefore discussed. Subsequently, the lower end wall panels 29 and 35 are bent upwardly substantially at right angles to the outer side wall panels I3 and I4 along dotted lines 1I to bring the lower end wall panels 28 to 30 into superimposed relation so as to complete the lower wall of the magazine I6. This brings the openings 62 into registry to form the discharge opening 35 and brings the openings 63 into registry to form the spindle opening 43.

After the rotor 31 and knob 4I! have been assembled with the magazine I0, and after the guide 48 carrying the guard 55 has been assembled with the magazine and the magazine filled with the tablets 35, the upper end wall panels 24 to 21 are folded downwardly substantially at right angles to the outer side wall panels II to I4 along dotted lines 12 to form the upper end wall of the magazine.

The lower end wall panels 28 to 30 may be cemented or otherwise secured together if desired, although this is not necessary since they will be held in superimposed relationship by the rotor 31 and the knob 45. As best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the central hub of the rotor bears against the lower end wall panel 28 and a shoulder 13 on the knob 4I) bears against the lower end wall panel 29. Similarly, the tabs 59 'and 60, which, as best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, engage the outer side wall panel I 2 and the tab 6I on the outer side wall panel I I, may be cemented or otherwise secured in place, although this is not necessary since the tablets in the magazine will tend to hold the inner side wall `panel I5 in place. y

The upper end wall panels 24 to 21 may be cemented or otherwise secured together, or may be held in place by tape (not shown), or by a label (not shown), placed thereover and secured to the sides of the magazine.

It will be understood that, in actual practice, it is preferable to stamp the various elements of the magazine IB from a sheet of cardboard or other suitable material in a single operation. Also, the sheet may be scored along the fold lines 66 to 'I2 to facilitate folding the various elements into assembled relation, as is well known in the art.

The foregoing construction provides a sturdy and substantial magazine lil which may be used as a shipping carton for the tablets 3B therein and which will withstand considerable rough usage when the device is employed to dispense the tablets. The employment of a plurality of lower end wall panels 28 to 3i! provides a relatively rigid mounting for the rotor 31 and knob 40 and provides adequate bearing support for the spindle 42. Also, the device may be manufactured inexpensively so that it may be discarded after use.

Although we have disclosed an exemplary embodiment of our invention herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in the specific embodiment disclosed without necessarily departing from the spirit of the invention and we hereby reserve the right to all such changes, modifications and substitutions as properly come within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims which follow.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a dispenser for such objects as tablets, the combination of: a magazine adapted to contain a supply of the objects to be dispensed and provided with a discharge opening for the objects; a dispensing element disposed in and movable relative to said magazine, said dispensing element being provided with a stall which is adapted to receive one of the objects and which is movable into registry with said discharge opening in said magazine during movement of said dispensing element relative to said magazine; means accessible from without said magazine and connected to said dispensing element for actuating said dispensing element; a generally dishlike, upwardly concave guide in said magazine adjacent said dispensing element, said guide being spaced from said dispensing element a distance less than the minimum dimension of the objects to be dispensed to prevent passage of the objects between said guide and said dispensing element, and said guide sloping downwardly toward said dispensing element so as to convey the objects downwardly thereto and being provided with a feed opening therethrough, said stall being disposed to register with said feed opening in said guide to receive an object therefrom; and a flexible and resilient guard adjacent said dispensing element for closing said stall when it is in registry with said discharge opening so as to prevent the discharge of more than one of the objects at a time said guard yielding if one of the objects is misaligned in said stall during movement of said stall into registry with said discharge opening so as to prevent damage to such misaligned object.

2. In a dispenser for such objects as tablets, the combination of t a magazine adapted to contain a supply of the objects to be dispensed and provided with a lower wall having a discharge opening -therethrough for the objects; a rotor in said magazine and mounted on said lower wall thereof adjacent said discharge opening for rotation about a generally vertical axis, said rotor being provided with a stall which is movable into registry with said discharge opening through said lower wall of said magazine during rotation of said rotor; a generally `disl'i-lilre, upwardly concave guide disposed in said magazine and overlying said rotor, said guide contacting said rotor and said guide sloping ydownwardly toward said rotor to convey the objects downwardly thereto and being provided with a feed opening therethrough communicating with said s-tall to deliver an object thereto for transportation to said discharge opening `during rotation of said rotor; `and a exible and resilient guard overlying a portion of said rotor above said discharge opening for closing said stall when it is in registry with said discharge opening so as to prevent the discharge of more than one of the objects `at a time, sai-d guard yielding if one of the objects is misaligned in said stall during movement of said stall into registry with said discharge opening so as 4to prevent damage to such misaligned object.

3. A dispenser as set forth in claim 2 wherein said guide is formed of a flexible and resilient material and wherein said guard is formed integrally with said guide.

4. In a dispenser for such objects as tablets, the combination of: a magazine adapted to contain a supply of the objects to be dispensed and provided with a lower wall and a plurality of side walls, said lower wall having a discharge opening therethrough and said side 4walls forming corners at their junctions; a generally dish-like, upwardly concave guide disposed in said magazine and spaced upwardly from said lower wall thereof, said guide being provided with a feed opening therethrough and sloping downwardly toward said feed opening, said guide having a plurality of corner portions respectively disposed in and extending diagonally across said corners at the junctions of said side walls of said magazine; and dispensing means disposed between said guide and said lower wall of said magazine and adapted to receive an object from said magazine through said feed opening in said guide for conveying such object to said discharge opening in said lower wall of said magazine.

5. A dispenser as set forth in claim 4 wherein said corner portions of said guide are triangular and extend upwardly into said corners at the junctions of said side walls of said magazine to provide surfaces sloping downwardly toward said feed opening.

6. In a -dispenser for such objects as tablets, the combination of: a magazine adapted to contain a supply of the objects to be dispensed, said magazine having side walls and having a lower end wall which includes superimposed `end wall panels respectively formed integrally with and fol-dably connected to certain of said side walls, said end wall panels respectively being provided with registering closed-periphery openings therethrough which cooperate to provide a discharge opening through said lower end wall, said end wall panels respectively being provided with additional registering openings therethrough which register when said end wall panels are folded in superimposed relation to provide a spindle opening through said lower end wall; and means in said magazine adjacent said lower end wall for dispensing successive ones of the objects in said magazine through said discharge openings, said dispensing means including a rotor in said magazine adjacent said lower end Wall and including a spindle connected to said rotor and extending through said spindle opening.

HOWARD B. LEWIS.

GLEN M. LARSON.

HOWARD FIELD, JR.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 745,017 Jamieson Nov. 24, 1903 1,007,390 Robinson Oct. 31, 1911 1,128,323 Johnstone Feb. 16, 1915 1,286,464 White Dec. 3, 1918 1,310,609' De Witt July 22, 1919 Number 15 Number Name Date Wright July 26, 1921 Bobrick Feb. 9, 1932 Campos May 3, 1938 l Warren et a1. i Oct. 17, 1939 Steuernagel et al. Nov. 21, 1939 Ringler Oct. 1, 1940 Warren Dec. 31, 1940 Lanham July 3, 1945 Moeller Dec. 4, 1945 Williamson Dec. 2, 1947 Bergh Aug. 16, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS- Country Date Great Britain June 1, 1944 

